.png)
.png)
HOSTED BY
ABC & Ammar Mirza CBE
(High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear | Chairman, ABConnexions)
In partnership with
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
.jpg)
20
Years of community engagement behind this movement
.jpg)
3
Themes — Health, Wealth and Happiness — addressed in one day
.jpg)
1
Co-created regional roadmap produced by everyone in the room
The North East has the talent, the drive, and the communities to become the most inclusive region in the UK. What it has lacked — until now — is a single moment where leaders from every sector sit at the same table and build something together.
This is a working session, not a panel event. Every person in the room is a contributor. Through structured table discussions, real-time problem solving and cross-sector collaboration, attendees will co-create a practical Inclusion by Default Roadmap with clear priorities and delivery pathways.
IBD Conference 2026 builds on nearly two decades of work led by Asian Business Connexions — an organisation that has engaged thousands of individuals, built trusted relationships across communities and sectors, and created platforms for underrepresented voices.
"Inclusion by Default is not built through policy alone. It is built through people who choose to act."
— Ammar Mirza CBE, High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear
THE AGENDA
Three themes. One day. Real outcomes.
Every session is designed to move beyond conversation — producing a clear, co-created output that participants take ownership of beyond the room.
Health & Happiness
Building communities where people feel safe, valued and able to thrive
From identity and creativity to community trust and workplace wellbeing, this session focuses on the conditions that allow people to flourish.
Craig Conway — Runway Rooms
Susan Dungworth — PCC Office
Caroline Preston — SHINE / NECA
Making economic opportunity genuinely accessible to all
From financial resilience to enterprise education, building the economic foundations that unlock opportunity across communities.
Jennie Pitt — Newcastle Building Society
Sarah Trouten — IoEE
Andy Black — PIE Project
Wealth & Enterprise
Embedding inclusion into systems, not bolting it on as an afterthought
Faith, equity, discipline and service — bringing diverse moral and civic perspectives to drive systemic change.
Ammar Mirza CBE — High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear
Imam Mohammed Rahman Pundit Ji Krishan Attri
Rev Dr Peter Adegbie
101st Regiment Royal Artillery
Justice & Leadership
WHAT TO EXPECT
Every attendee becomes a contributor
IBD Conference is built around a structured, outcomes-driven methodology, not a series of talks you sit through and forget.
1
Themed discussions
Structured, facilitated conversations designed to surface real insight — not rehearsed positions.
2
Cross-sector collaboration
Every table brings together leaders from different sectors. The best ideas come from unexpected combinations.
3
Real-time synthesis
Ideas and solutions captured live, not written up weeks later in a report nobody reads.
4
The roadmap
You leave with something tangible — a co-created regional plan with named stakeholders and delivery pathways.
OUR SPEAKER
People doing the work — not observing it
Every speaker at IBD Conference 2026 is a practitioner — someone doing this work inside real organisations, in real communities, every day.
.png)
Jennie Pitt McIpd
Head Of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Craig Conway
Actor, Producer, Director and Co- founder - Runway Rooms
PCC Susan Dungworth
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Northumberland
Ammar Mirza CBE
Chairman of ABConnexions, High Sheriff of Tyne & Wear
Co-creating Inclusion with IIF
Using our Inclusive Innovation Framework (IIF), developed with Yohlar, we will spend an interactive and fun afternoon co-creating an inclusion roadmap for the North East and your organisation.
Find out more about IIF below:
Thank you to our Yohlar workshop experts:
Andy Black
Dr Phil Veal
 |  |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |